Game



E. E. FRANCE GAME Flled Nov 5 1923 I Z. 1: 1: U

2 Sheets-Shel 1 9 A5 E. E. FRANCE July 22, 19240 GAME Filed Nov. 5, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E.E.F1 ance' INVENTOR ATTOR EY Patented July 22, 1224 ETDVJAEID E. FRANCE, OF RACINE, WISCONSIN.

GAME.

Application filed November 5, 1923. Serial 1\T0. 672,937. 2

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD E. FRANCE, a

. citizen of the United States, residing at Racine, in the county of Racine and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Games, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to amusement devices, particularly to games, and has for its object the provision of a novel device for playing a bowling game.

An important and more specific object is the'provision of a game of this character which includes means for lifting and propelling a ball which travels over a playing surface at the end of which are pivotally mounted members representing pins and arranged in the same manner as in a regular bowling alley, scoring being done by counting the number of pins knocked over at each shot in the usual manner.

The invention has for a further object the provision of various details of construction and arrangement whichproduces a unitary effect which will insure considerable entertainment in the game.

An additional object is the provision of a device of this character which will be simple and inexpensive in manufacture, highly efficient in use, durable in service and a general improvement in the art.

With the above and other objects and advantages in View the invention consists in the details of construction to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illus trated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the game device constructed in accordance with my invention,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section therethrough showing some of the pins in upright position and some of them lying down,

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the pin carrier tilted to restore all the pins to upright position,

Figure l is a horizontal section taken below the top to illustrate the ball lifting means,

Figure 5 is a cross section. I

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the ball lifting member,

The remaining figures aredetail views.

Referring more particularly to the drawings I have shown the device as comprising an elongated casing 10 of box like formation which is formed with a longitudinally eX- tending upstanding block like partition or dividing member 11 which has its edges spaced from the inner walls of the casing to define channels 12. One end of the casing has its bottom considerably lower than the other whereby the channels will be inclined toward one end.

Seated upon the top of one end portion of the member 11 and fitting oonformingly within the confines of the casing, is an alley member formedas a block 13 cut or otherwise formed to define a V-shaped or flaring guide or alley 14 which inclines downwardly toward that end of the casing at which the bottom is the highest as clearly shown in Figure 2. g

Located within the other end of the casing and pivoted near the rear end of the block 13 is a table member 15 equipped with a handle 16-by means of which it may be swung selectively into horizontal or vertical position. This table member is rectangular in shape and is formed in its upper surface with a plurality of elongated recesses 17 which are staggered as shown and within which are pivoted on rods or wires 18 pins 19 which, when in'normal position, stand upright but which are capable of being knocked over to lie within the recesses.

The forward end of the block member 13 is formed with a slot 20 within which is pivoted, at 21, a treadle 22 which is provided on its underside with a weight 23 normally holding the treadle in such position that its forward end will lie in a recess 24 in the bottom of the casing. This forward end ofthe treadle is formed with a cup like depression 25 and is located at the very lowest point of the inclined bottom; Pivoted within a re cess 26 at one side of the slot 20 is a lever 27 which has one end engaging beneath the treadle and which has its other end movable along'a slot 28 in the end of the casing, this latter mentioned end being formed or otherwise provided witha handle 29.

In connection with the above described apparatus, I make'use of a ball 30. In the operation theball is placed within the lower portion of the casing and is always ready for use. The treadle 1S normally in such position that 1ts cupped end is lowermost so that the ball rolling down the inclined channels 12 will always enter the cup of the treadle. To play the game, the operator grasps the handle 16 and swings the table member into vertical position, so that the pins 19 will swing into a position at right angles to the table, after which the table is permitted to swing backinto horizontal position. The game is then ready'to play. To make a shot, the operator presses his finger upon the handle 29 and rocks the lever 27 whereupon the treadle 22 is swung so that the ball holding end thereof is moved upwardly into a recess 31 in the underside ,of the alley member 13, the ball leaving the cup like depression and passing through an opening 32 in the alley member onto the alley 1 1, the ball rolling down onto and across the table 15 andknocking over the pins 19 in its path. By til'ting the entire device to one side or the other the ball may be caused .to move in any desired path so that if the operator has three; shots as in a regular bowling game he may display his skilland may be able to knock down all of the pins. Score is kept in exactly the same manner as in ten pins or duck pins and it 1.,Aganie device of the character described comprising a box like casing having the bottom inclined downwardly toward its forward end, an alley member mounted.

in the top of the casing and inclined in the opposite direction, a table mounted within theother end of the casing and carrying a plurality of pivotally mounted pins, and a lever actuated treadle device mounted at the forward end of the casing for'lifti ng a ball up onto the alley member.

'2. A game device of the character described comprising a box like casing having 7 the bottom inclined downwardly toward its forward end, an alley member mounted in the top of the casing and inclined in the opposite direction, a table mounted within the other end of the casing and carrying a plurality of pivotally mounted pins, a lever actuated treadle device mounted at the for- -ward end of the casing forilifting a ball up onto the alleymember, said table member being formed with recesses within which the pins are located, and said tablegmember being pivotally mountedfwherebyit may be swung up into vertical position to cause the pins to gravitate into position at right angles to the table.

' the alley member.

3. A game device ofthe character described comprising a box like casing having the bottom inclined downwardly toward its forward end, an alley member mounted in the top of the casing and inclined in the opposite direction, a table mounted within the other end of the casing and carrying a plurality of pivotally mounted pins, a lever actuated treadle device mounted at the forward end of the casing for lifting a ball up onto the alley member, the rear end of the table being spaced from thereadend; of the casing to permit the ball to drop down onto the bottom. j

4:. A device of the character described comprising a casing, an upright partition member extending from the'bottom thereof and spaced from the sides to define channels, the bottoms of the channels inclining downwardly toward the front of the casing, the

forward end of said partition member being slotted, an alley member mounted w thin the forward end of the top of the casing, and

inclining downwardly toward the rear end, a table mounted at the rear end of the casing and'carrying pivoted pins adapted to be.

knocked over, a treadle pivoted within said slot and weighted whereby its forward end? will be normally lowermost, said forward" end having a cup like depression seating;

within a recess at the lowest point infthe forward end ofthe bottom, and means for swinging said treadle member whereby ball disposable thereon will be lifted onto 5. A device of the character described comprising a casing, an upright partition member extending from the bottom thereof and spaced from the sides to define channels, the bottoms of the channels inclining downwardly, toward the front of the casing, the

forward end of said partition member being slotted, an alleym ember mounted within the forward end of the top of the casing,

and inclining downwardly toward the rear end, a table mounted at the rear end of the casing and carrying pivoted. pins'adapted to be knocked over, treadle pivoted within" said slot and weighted whereby its. forward end will be normally lowermost, said forward end having a cup like depression seat ing within a recess at'the lOWBSt POlIIhlD the forward end of the bottoin, means for swinging said treadle member whereby a ball disposable thereon will be lifted onto:

the alley member, said means comprising a pivoted lever connected with the treadle and movable through a slot in the forward end of the casing, the underside of the alley member being recessed and having an opening for the passage of the ball; ,7

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature. V EDWARD E'FRANCE. 

